Description

CHITTLEHAMHOLT WHITMORE LANE
SS 61 NE

6/70 Hawkins
-
- II


Possibly originally tenement farmhouse, later divided into 2 cottages and now
reverted to single occupation. Late C17 with C19 alterations. Stone rubble and
cob, unrendered to rear. Asbestos slate roof with gable ends. Large rendered stone
rubble stack at each end, that to left with tapered cap heightened in brick. Stone
rubble stack with brick shaft to gable end of rear wing.
Plan: direct entry into both large heated rooms to front range heated from gable
end stacks, that to right with winder staircase projecting into room to centre rear
wall, that to left with winder staircase in integral rear outshut in the outer angle
of the wing which projects at right angles from the rear right side of this front
left-hand room.
Development: the precise development has been obscured by C19 alterations. A thick
partition wall rising to the apex of the roof divides the 2 front rooms, the
original roof over the right-hand room having a much lower ridge level than that
over the left-hand room. However, both roof structures appear to be of a C17 date,
so that, if of two separate builds, the evidence is unclear for which is the
earlier. The left-hand room has higher quality detailing, and may have served as a
parlour, while the right hand room retains evidence of a partition towards its left
end. If the front window is an insertion into a blocked doorway, that partition may
have created a passage between the two main rooms; the present doorway into the
right-hand room certainly appears to be a later insertion. Probably in the C18, the
gable-ended two-storeyed wing was added to the rear of the left-hand room, creating
a sizeable additional heated room. The fireplace has been blocked, but there is no
bread oven projection so it appears not to have served as a kitchen wing. Its
addition may have been prompted by the division of the house into two cottages.
However, the possibility cannot be ignored that the house was intended from the
outset for dual occupation.
2 storeys. 3 window range. Irregular fenestration. Principally late C19 2 and 3
light casements, 2 panes per light. Slated gabled roof to latticed porch to left
side, plank door to right side. Small lean-to slate roof at right end sheltering
external cast iron water pump.
Interior Left-hand room has scroll-stopped chamfered cross ceiling beam; C19
fireplace surround; steep timber winder staircase in outshut to rear left-hand
corner. Rough hewn ceiling joists and beam to right-hand room. Steep timber winder
staircase to centre rear of room. C19 joinery intact throughout. C17 roof
structure over right-hand room with heavy straight principals set low in the walls
with trenched purlins, the battens, rafters and plaster ceiling surving below the
superimposed C20 roof structure. Roof structure over left-hand range not fully
accessible. Single truss with slightly curving feet and trenched purlins, the
timber apparently slightly blackened through age rather than smoke.
Hawkins has remained relatively unspoilt since the C19 and retains several
interesting features and an unusual plan form.

Listing NGR: SS6596619747

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26410911

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)